• AI Shown to be Useful for a Mars Mission

    While the media is continually writing about artificial intelligence (AI) doing a kid’s homework and then destroying the world, maybe AI does have some utility in preparing us for a second world. A study published in Nature Synthesis found that AI may be useful in finding ways to extract oxygen from water on Mars. Scientists…

  • Pic of the Week: Telescope Teamwork with MACS0416

    This week’s image combines the talents of the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope to create a dazzling show of light. The galaxy cluster, known as MACS0416, is about 4.3 billion light-years from Earth. Here is much more from the European Space Agency: The image reveals a wealth of details that are…

  • Starship May Launch on Saturday

    The Federal Aviation Administration has given SpaceX a green light to move forward with its next test of the Starship rocket. SpaceX may attempt the launch as soon as Saturday. Let’s hope SpaceX can get back on track with its rocket. NASA is counting on the Starship as part of its Artemis III mission returning…

  • Space Quote: A Nasty Hit to Our Ozone Layer from 1.9 Billion Light-Years Away

    “The ozone was partially depleted — was destroyed temporarily.” –Statement by Pietro Ubertini, an astronomer at the National Institute of Astrophysics in Rome, regarding supernova gamma rays that hit the Earth’s upper atmosphere in October 2022. The supernova explosion was 1.9 billion light-years away. You can read the paper on this event in Nature. An…

  • Space Stories: Name-dropping on Europa, Flying Toolboxes, and Space Veggies

    Here are some recent stories of interest. —NASA JPL: “Time is Running Out to Add Your Name to NASA’s Europa Clipper“ Six weeks remain for you to add your name to a microchip that will ride aboard the spacecraft as it explores Jupiter’s moon Europa. It’s not every day that members of the public have the…

  • Where is This? November 13, 2023 Quiz

    Take a look at the image above. Can you determine where this image originated? Take a guess and then check your answer by going to the “Where is This? The Answer Sheet” page.

  • Video: Be Sure to Download the NASA+ App

    If you are trying to learn more about the space programs at NASA, you can download the recently updated NASA+ app, which has a variety of videos and astronomy series to please anyone’s curiosity. For instance, check out the videos under “Scientific Wonders” to learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope, the New Horizons…

  • RIP: Frank Borman, Apollo Astronaut

    Earlier this week, former astronaut Frank Borman, age 95, passed away at his home in Billings, Montana. He was most famous for his role as Commander of the 1968 Apollo 8 Mission, which was the first manned mission to circle the Moon. He was NASA’s oldest living astronaut. Here is one of Mr. Borman’s observations…

  • Another Mission to Resupply the ISS Underway

    Yesterday, NASA sent another resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. It will not rendezvous with the ISS until early Saturday morning (no sleeping in for the crew). This mission, CRS-29, will be SpaceX’s 29th supply mission to the ISS. The next most frequent resupplier is Northrop Grumman, which…

  • Happy Birthday, Carl Sagan!

    Astronomer Carl Sagan was born on this day in 1934. It is always worth taking a few moments to remember his contributions to science as a great communicator. You can read more about the man at this informative site from the Center for Inquiry.